2015 MX5 Cup – Cadwell Park Race Report

Sycamore takes maiden win, but Short makes it 9 from 9

Three races were needed for rounds 8 and 9 of the 5Club Racing Nankang MX5 Championship at Cadwell Park due to such a large entry which meant the whole field couldn’t fit onto one grid. Therefore, a group system was utilised where three races took place and each driver would compete in two races so everyone races everyone.

Qualifying

All the cars took to the circuit during a 15 minute qualifying session, but once more nobody could stop championship leader and unbeaten racer this season, although the rest are getting closer to Ben Short.

He set a time of 1:45.90 and was just 0.13 seconds faster than Jack Sycamore. James Rogers and Will Blackwell-Chambers were also within a second of Short’s pole lap.

Grant Williamson was the best of the rest with Jason Greatrex, Mark Willetts, Adam Bessell, Michael Comber and Daniel Stewart just behind him.

Race 1

Groups B and C raced first which would mean 2015 would see a new winner as Short wouldn’t be competing. Sycamore converted his pole into an early race lead with Rogers chasing. A mistake for Sycamore through the Gooseneck on the opening lap actually worked to his advantage as Rogers had to slow to avoid running into him and that allowed Greatrex briefly into second.

Rogers got back ahead of Greatrex on the second lap but the three second advantage that Sycamore had pulled out was too much for Rogers to catch, therefore meaning the podium remained as Sycamore, Rogers and Greatrex.

Williamson ran in fourth briefly but fell eighth on the third lap promoting a flying Adam Bessell to fourth with Mike Comber chasing. Scott Leach came sixth after James Harris fell down to tenth.

That meant Williamson came seventh and followed Leach right to the flag with Stephen Craggs behind the pair on them.

Marco Aghem, Harris and Alec Livesley all came across the line within 0.06 seconds in the battle for ninth. Stuart Brittle was the best of the rest.

Race 2

Normal service was resumed when groups C and A took to the circuit as Short immediately beat Rogers off of the line. Rogers then also lost out when Blackwell-Chambers passed him a few laps later. A nose-to-tail battle for the lead followed and Short led home a BS Motorsport 1-2 with Rogers in third.

Mike Comber, who seems to be getting to grips with the Mk1 Mx5’s, ran fifth all race maintaining a gap to Greatrex. Jason’s brother Kris came home sixth after a quick start, moving up from tenth.

Paul Monteith won a tight battle for seventh. He passed Matthew Short at half distance then had to hold off Mark Willett and Harris as Short fell to tenth. Sebastien Fisher was also involved in that scrap – but at the rear of it.

Ben Hancy was next up and held off Scott Aprigliano and Ian Tomlinson. Stewart was running comfortably within the top ten but retired at Charlies on lap four.

Race 3

Groups A and B raced last and had the most hotly tested battle for the win. Oddly, Sycamore was saved by a red flag as he initially made an awful start – dropping him half way down the field. The red flag was caused by an incident involving Nick Le Doyen, Tomlinson and Paul Read at Park Corner.

All Drivers OK.

A restart followed in which Short led from Blackwell-Chambers and, this time, Sycamore. After attempting it in the previous laps, WBC made a bold move on Short in Hall Bends on the penultimate lap. A strong run off of Barn though saw Short slipstream pass into Coppice.

He managed to hold Blackwell-Chambers and Sycamore off who both attempted a pass at Mansfield on the final lap.

Bessell took fourth after passing Williamson on the penultimate lap and fast starting Kris Greatrex retired at mid-distance. Williamson, blew an engine, and also retired which allowed Craggs into fifth with Aghem, Stewart and Leach close behind.

Fisher beat Livesley to ninth after a tight battle. Scott Aprigliano, who also appeared to be a fast starter from the rear of the grid, chased them home.

Adam Bessell was awarded the “MeisterR driver of the event”

Stephen Craggs won the “ BS Motorsport Masters Trophy”
( Craggs and Leach now make it 2 each in the Masters )

Once again Ben Short is proving tough to beat and no one still is able to do it although Jack Sycamore took his first victory in the category.

The Championship next heads to Anglesey for a triple header in which each driver will race three times. Will Blackwell-Chambers and James Rogers amongst others will be bidding to beat runaway championship leader, Short.